Gabriel Noda, Deputy Chair of the Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists Aboriginal Corporation (ANKAAA), addressed the inquiry in Darwin, calling for deterrent measures and legislation to be put in place immediately.

"We would like to find a real solution to solve the problem now. A [regulatory] body or a corporation should be set up down south, and have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people apply to work there," he said.

"It should have people who know about the law and parliament, coming up with a penalty and resolution to go through parliament.

"Those selling fake art should be prosecuted … back in the day [if] you took a man's belongings, you get speared."

Mr Noda also called for strengthening of the Indigenous art code — which underpins trade between Indigenous art dealers and artists — to ensure that deals were fair and ethical.

Chief Executive Officer of ANKAAA, Christina Davidson, said the regulatory system was not efficient.

"There's an extraordinary amount of clutter that confuses the consumer and disturbs authentic artists," she said.

"It puts the onus on the good guys to prove what they're doing is authentic. The bad guys don't have to do anything."

Acting chair of the inquiry, Member for Lingiari Warren Snowden, assured Darwin attendees that in their report to parliament, the committee would make very strong recommendations on amending consumer law and the Indigenous Arts Code.

"People are very angry that their culture is being stolen. We understand that. The same story is being told to us," he said.

The senate inquiry has held twenty public hearings and received in excess of 150 submissions, with Darwin being the last stop in the nationwide tour.